Summary
- The Greek Society of Cinematographers celebrated the 10th anniversary of the GSC Awards.
- A new GSC Short Film Award was introduced for the first time.
- Phedon Papamichael won Best Cinematography in a Feature Film for A Complete Unknown.
- Yiannis Georgiou received the inaugural GSC Short Film Award for Loudias.
- Three honorary distinctions were presented during the ceremony.
- The event also featured a tribute to four colleagues who recently passed away.
The Greek Society of Cinematographers celebrated the 10th anniversary of the GSC Awards with a special ceremony that honored the leading cinematographers of the year and marked the launch of a new award for short films.
The ceremony took place at the open-air Cine Lais of the Greek Film Archive, bringing together professionals from the film industry. Actress Elena Mengreli hosted the event.
This year’s edition was particularly important as it marked a decade of the awards while introducing the GSC Short Film Award. The new category was created to actively support emerging filmmakers and strengthen intergenerational collaboration within the cinematography community. The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece (EKKOMED) served as the strategic supporter of the event.
The Main Winners
The GSC Award for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film 2026 was presented to Phedon Papamichael for his work on A Complete Unknown, further highlighting his internationally recognized career.
At the same time, the first-ever GSC Short Film Award was presented to Yiannis Georgiou for his cinematography in the short film Loudias, making him the inaugural winner of the new category.
The winners were selected through a confidential electronic vote conducted among the Society’s Honorary and Regular Members.
The Finalists
For the first time, the Board of Directors announced the five productions that received the highest number of votes in each category before revealing the winners, increasing the anticipation until the final results.
For the GSC Short Film Award 2026, the finalists were Once There Was Someone, cinematography by Petros Goritsas; Last Tropics, cinematography by Konstantinos Koukoulios; Loudias, cinematography by Yiannis Georgiou; Magdalena Hausen: Frozen Time, cinematography by Giorgos Frentzos; and Noi, cinematography by Christina Moumouri.
For the Feature Film Award 2026, the finalists were Our Wild Days, cinematography by Giorgos Valsamis; A Complete Unknown, cinematography by Phedon Papamichael; Christmas Carols, cinematography by Konstantinos Koukoulios; Beachcomber, cinematography by Giorgos Karvelas; and Patty Is Such a Girly Name, cinematography by Christina Moumouri.
Honorary Distinctions
The evening also featured three honorary awards.
George Maniatis was recognized for his professionalism and long-standing support of the Society as a focus puller. The award was presented by GSC Vice President Christina Moumouri.
Yiannis Tsonos, a lighthouse keeper, was honored for his contribution to preserving human-made light as a guiding element of visual perception. The award was presented by acclaimed author Ioanna Karystiani.
Photographer Nikos Oikonomopoulos received an honorary distinction for his distinctive and thought-provoking body of work. The award was presented by renowned cinematographer Giorgos Arvanitis.
Review of Activities and Future Plans
GSC President Giorgos Frentzos presented the Society’s main activities over the past year, including participation in the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Drama International Short Film Festival, Aigio International Short Film Festival, Athens International Film Festival Opening Nights, and the IMAGO Congress in Vienna.
He also highlighted the educational workshops dedicated to film and outlined future plans, which include workshops for DIT and color grading professionals, camera testing sessions, and three additional film workshops.
A Moving Tribute
One of the most emotional moments of the evening was a tribute to four members of the cinematography community who recently passed away: Giorgos Panousopoulos, Stelios Chasapis, Andreas Bellis and Nigel Walters.
The tribute was accompanied by a live cello performance by Nikos Papaioannou, creating one of the most moving moments of the anniversary celebration.
What We Think
The 10th anniversary of the GSC Awards confirms the importance of a long-standing institution dedicated to recognizing the art of cinematography in Greece. The introduction of a dedicated short film award is a significant step toward supporting the next generation of filmmakers and demonstrates the Society’s commitment to the future of visual storytelling.
